The Greek Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia under the pressure of normalisation in 1969 – 1989

Authors

  • Jana Lukáčova Department of Historical Sciences, Greek-Catholic Theological Faculty, University of Presov in Presov Ulica biskupa Gojdiča 2, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia
  • Peter Šturák Department of Historical Sciences, Greek-Catholic Theological Faculty, University of Presov in Presov Ulica biskupa Gojdiča 2, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4606-5208
  • Martin Weis TF Department of Theological Disciplines, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4326-3527

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2022.2.631.644

Keywords:

church history, Greek Catholic Church, Czechoslovakia, normalisation

Abstract

Aim. This article presents the status of the Greek Catholic Church during a defined period. It brings the functioning of this religion in the period of normalisation of society closer.

Methods. Our study is the result of archival and document-based research, as well as expert studies and monographs dealing with the above-mentioned issue.

Results. Although we can define the period studied in our research as a period of relative freedom when compared with the years 1950–1967, it cannot be perceived as a total liberation of the Church. Unfortunately, the political reality was also reflected in the life and functioning of the Church itself. The Greek Catholic Church and its leaders understood that without the necessary support from the state and regime, they would lose their freedom mainly attained in the first half of 1968.

Conclusion. The Greek Catholic Church had to face several important and ground-breaking tasks that were to ensure its stability for functioning and administration after 18 years of its non-existence. This involved receiving state consent for Consecrator ThDr. Basil (Vasiľ) Hopko, leadership of the Greek Catholic Church in general, consolidation of relationships and conflict resolution between the Greek Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, or even the area of support and consent for building its own institute of theological formation.

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Author Biographies

  • Jana Lukáčova, Department of Historical Sciences, Greek-Catholic Theological Faculty, University of Presov in Presov Ulica biskupa Gojdiča 2, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia

    Position: lecturer

    Research focus: Slovak history, History of the Greek Catholic Church, General History, History of Islam.

  • Peter Šturák, Department of Historical Sciences, Greek-Catholic Theological Faculty, University of Presov in Presov Ulica biskupa Gojdiča 2, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia

    Position: professor, dean of the faculty

    Research focus: Ecclesiastical history of antiquity, Church history of the 20th century, History of the Greek Catholic Church, The person of Blessed Bishop P. P. Gojdič OSBM, Political history of the 20th century.

  • Martin Weis, TF Department of Theological Disciplines, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Position: professor

    Research focus: Church history.

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Published

2022-09-27

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Section

LOCAL CULTURES AND SOCIETIES

How to Cite

Lukáčova, J. ., Šturák, P., & Weis, M. (2022). The Greek Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia under the pressure of normalisation in 1969 – 1989. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 13(2), 631-644. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2022.2.631.644